Bose

Founded in 1964, Bose have been leaders in consumer electronics for over fifty years. From Bose speakers, to their QuietComfort noise cancelling headphones and even professional use live audio systems (such as the Bose L1 portable PA system), Bose design consistently high quality audio equipment with cutting edge, proprietary technology.

The Bose mission is to think of better solutions, create better products and help people enjoy the things they love with everything the company does having the aim to support this mission, Bose have created some incredible products along the way. It all began in 1964 when Dr. Amar Gamal Bose founded the company and is reflected today in the continuing quality products and exciting innovations that Bose release year on year. As a child, Amar Bose learned to play the violin which garnered a lifelong adoration of classical music. To earn money to help his family, in his teens Amar began performing radio repairs in his parents’ basement before eventually his business becoming the largest radio repair shop in the city.

Eventually, Amar Bose gained a scholarship at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, ultimately gaining his PhD and becoming Dr. Bose in 1956. Legend goes that, wanting to treat himself and celebrate gaining his PhD, Amar Bose, a serious audiophile with an obsession for quality audio and a passion for music, decided to go out and buy the highest spec high-fidelity stereo at the time.

Upon returning home, setting up his new hi-fi and sticking on one of his favourite records, Amar Bose noticed something was missing… it didn’t sound real. And so, it began; Amar Bose set off on a quest to design products that would marry state-of-the-art, cutting-edge technology with a range of innovative features to bring high quality, peerless, true to life audio reproduction mirroring live sound to every Bose customer.

Dr. Bose, heavily influenced by his research into psychoacoustics (the science behind how sound is perceived, not just produced) began designing a solution to his audio problem and in 1966, Bose released their first consumer product – the Bose 2201 speaker. The Bose 2201 speaker utilised the Direct/Reflecting technology which is now a Bose staple; this is the art of not just delivering audio direct from the speaker to the listener but also using the natural acoustics of the room to achieve a natural sound, thus emulating the audio produced when instruments perform live. While this initial product didn’t achieve the commercial success that Bose had hoped for it paved the way for the iconic Bose 901 speaker.

Through extensive research in speaker design and psychoacoustics, in 1968 Bose released the Bose 901s to immediate acclaim due to its amazing ability to capture the essence and emotional impact of a live concert. Bose carried on, focusing on demonstrations of the 901 speakers which lead to it becoming Bose’s first major commercial success. It became apparent that many professional musicians were using the Bose 901 speakers as PA speakers and onstage monitors at live events and so Bose began to research and design equipment for this exact application which lead to the development on the Bose 800 which utilised an equaliser and eight 4.5 inch drivers which ultimate lead to a new, live sound division within the Bose company… which in turn lead to the creation of the L1 Portable PA Bose sound system (more on that later).

Moving into the 1980s, Bose launched an entirely new sound category by becoming the first company ever to offer factory-installed sound systems that had been custom-engineered to the acoustics of a specific vehicle model with a premium Bose sound system being integrated with the Cadillac Seville. 1986 saw prototype noise cancelling headphones make a historic flight. Two prototypes of Bose noise cancelling headphones were used to help preserve the hearing of the pilots Jeana Yeager and Dick Rutan on their record breaking none stop flight around the world. 1989 saw the first commercial acoustic noise cancelling headset released by Bose, revolutionising flight for pilots; the introduction of a headset that provided effective noise reduction and communication while being comfortable to wear.

Nowadays, Bose is a household name due to the quality of many of their products with the Bose sound system taking pride of place in homes across the world. The Bose home cinema systems such as the Bose Lifestyle home entertainment system brings the sound of the movie theatre into your home. The active noise cancelling headphones such as the Bose QuietComfort headphones allow you to have uninterrupted, clear personal audio experiences; Bose noise cancelling at its best. The Bose in-ear headphones (such as the Bose MIE2i in-ear mobile headphones) are also a great bit of kit. Though tiny and unobtrusive in sound, they pack quite a powerful punch in the audio department and deliver a sound not often heard in earphones, taking your mobile personal audio experiences to the next level.

One particularly innovative series of products from Bose that we really love here at PMT is their range of portable PA systems. Bose portable PA systems like the L1 model 1S portable system allow you to take an entire PA system with monitoring capabilities out with you and it all comes in one handy, extremely portable package. Bose’s unique technology and design expertise allows for the L1 to serve as both the PA for your audience and monitor for the performer on stage; building from what Bose learned back in the 1970s when professional musicians were using Bose systems on stage. By simply positioning the Bose tower behind or to the side of the performer they can easily hear what the audience hears; giving you greater control than ever before and all without the need of separate, conventional monitors, mixers and PA systems.

The tower-like vertical design of the Bose system and tightly spaced drivers allow for sound to be projected not only forwards but to the sides thus delivering even, 180-degree coverage, high quality sound. Producing consistent tonal balance and an even sound spread across the stage and into the audience the Bose L1 makes for a great all-in-one Bose sound system.

So, from Bose headphones, to music listening at home, Bose home cinema systems, car fitted systems, Bose aviation headsets and Bose portable PA systems… there’s not much in the world of sound that Bose haven’t yet covered and we’re eager to find out what is next, as Dr. Bose said; “Always dream of things that are better and think about ways to reach those things”.

As an official, authorised dealer of Bose products in the UK, PMT Online have a wide range of Bose sound systems to aid you with your audio requirements with free delivery and finance options available on many products. Check out what we have in stock on the website or visit your local PMT House of Rock!